NCJ Number
51660
Editor(s)
S L WHITEMAN,
B L BOURN
Date Published
1978
Length
80 pages
Annotation
A YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UPHELD (YOU), INC., PROGRAM MANUAL TRAINS VOLUNTEERS IN WORCESTER, MASS., TO GATHER SOCIAL HISTORY DATA ON COURT-INVOLVED CHILDREN FOR JUVENILE COURT JUDGES AND PROBATION OFFICERS.
Abstract
YOU, INC., WAS FORMED TO WORK WITH THE WORCESTER JUVENILE COURT AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TROUBLED YOUTHS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEMS AND METHODS TO RESOLVE THEM. SOCIAL HISTORY VOLUNTEERS GATHER INFORMATION AND PROVIDE WRITTEN STUDIES ON CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. VOLUNTEER TRAINING IS ACCOMPLISHED IN FOUR PHASES. IN THE FIRST ORIENTATION PHASE, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON GROUP-CENTERED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING INTRODUCTIONS, DISCUSSIONS, AND GROUP EXERCISES. IN THE SECOND PHASE, THE VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IN THE COURSE OF RESEARCHING AND WRITING SOCIAL HISTORY REPORTS; THIS PART OF THE TRAINING INVOLVES ROLE-PLAYING, MOCK SOCIAL HISTORIES CARRIED OUT BY VOLUNTEERS, AND GROUP DISCUSSION. THE THIRD PHASE REQUIRES THAT THE VOLUNTEER WRITE A MOCK SOCIAL HISTORY, WHILE THE FINAL PHASE IS ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING. A CASE STUDY IS INCLUDED. BACKGROUND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE JUVENILE COURT STAFF, THE STATE JUDICIARY, AND THE WORCESTER JUVENILE COURT IN TERMS OF ITS HISTORY, PROCEDURES, AND INTAKE AND DISPOSITIONAL ALTERNATIVES. A SOCIAL HISTORY INTERVIEW OUTLINE AND ASSORTED FORMS ARE APPENDED. A GLOSSARY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED.